Here is one of those rare thrillers that doesn’t kill its characters for kicks; it kills them to remind us that when people die, they’re dead, and their loved ones are forever haunted. So begins this moody, violent film as Natalie (Kelsey Asbille), a young Native American woman, runs through the snow, barefoot and scared out of her mind. The next morning, Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner), a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent, discovers Natalie’s frozen body while tracking a mountain lion. Because the body is found on the Wind River reservation, homicide investigation belongs to the federal government, and the police chief (Graham Greene) calls the FBI. In pops Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen), straight from Las Vegas, ill-prepared for the deadly cold weather but pretty smart about everything else. Jane and Cory form a quick bond, and he’s soon helping Jane with her investigation. The whodunit goes in unexpected directions, with unexpected villains and at a refreshingly quick pace. Writer-director Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water) coaxes superb performances from the entire cast, especially Gil Birmingham as Natalie’s father. Don’t miss one of the best movies of the year. By David Riedel